What does EKI stand for?
The abbreviation EKI stands not only for European Plastic Industry but also directly reflects our company's core values: Empathy, Knowledge, and Innovation. Alone you may struggle, but together you can change the world. Our key value is empathy. Knowledge is abundant, but you need the courage to admit what you don't know and dare to ask questions. Innovation then becomes a natural outcome.
EMPATHY
Empathy concerns our capacity to empathise with our customer. We really want to get to know our customer better – not only in terms of which industry they’re in, but also what their previous experiences have been with other suppliers, and what they’re looking for in a business relationship. We make every effort to put ourselves in our customers’ shoes in order to meet their needs.
KNOWLEDGE
Understanding each other then prompts the question as to whether we can help the customer with our current knowledge, skills and equipment. This concerns knowledge both about our products and about whether we have the right material and can deliver it in the desired form. In other words, the knowledge required to say whether we’re able to meet the customer’s needs.
INNOVATION
This innovation can mean something like adding a new material to our product programme, for example. Alternatively, we might test whether we can cut particularly challenging shapes on our machines. Our ultimate aim is to help customers quickly and effectively, including with requests that we do not deal with on a daily basis.
Consistently the Best Quality
EKI manages the entire production process in-house, allowing us to maintain control over quality. From producing rolls and sheets ourselves to adding various types of adhesive layers and processing different shapes, we oversee every step. We source all materials directly from raw material suppliers, ensuring we know the exact composition and can guarantee our customers the highest possible quality.
Together towards a sustainable future
Every day, we dedicate ourselves to taking steps towards a more sustainable business and thus a sustainable world. For instance, we use 10% of our own solar farm ourselves and supply green electricity to up to 800 (!) households in the neighbourhood. In addition, we continuously focus on a pleasant, sustainable relationship with our people, both internally and externally.
Everyone is equal within EKI. It is not about what education you have or where you come from, but about who you are. Over the past 150 years, we have always stayed close to ourselves. By putting our team centre stage, looking and really listening to our people, many hidden talents have surfaced.
EKI in numbers
This wonderful and diverse group of heroes has an average age of approximately 37 years and scores an 8.5 when it comes to job happiness. We're secretly quite proud of this.
Passionate and experienced craftsmen
A family business since 1875
Women, including 4 production champions and 9 office stars.
9 nationalities
Employee satisfaction score
Employees with 30+ years of service
Satisfied customers since 1969
Colleagues with combined roles
Golden combination of EKI & Paperfabriek
We're proud of the Papierfabriek, our unique 'sister'. This creative playground spanning 45,000m2 has stirred up a lot, even in the surrounding area. Thanks to the Papierfabriek, we do things just a bit differently, offering employees and customers exceptional experiences.
At the Papierfabriek, we collaborate with esteemed brands like Red Bull, Bugatti, BNNVARA, & Het Perfecte Plaatje. Come in on a Monday morning, and you might bump into famous comedians, TV presentors or YouTubers filming. It's an invaluable piece of extra employee happiness.
History
Establishment of the Paper Products Factory
Papierwarenfabriek J.H. Eekhoff is founded by the Eekhoff family.
Establishment of ENS
The second generation of the Eekhoff family establishes ENS (Eerste Nederlandsche Schuurpapier- en Schuurlinnenfabriek) on Biezen (previously known as Biezendwarsweg) in Nijmegen. This is the premises that houses EKI until the start of 2020.
Jubilee
25th anniversary of ENS.
Marriage to van der Tol
Jannetje Eekhoff, daughter of the Eekhoff family, marries Sytse van der Tol. This marks the start of the gradual transfer of the company from the Eekhoff family to the Van der Tol family.
From ENS to EKI
Based on an idea proposed by someone from the rubber industry who comes to work at ENS, we begin converting foam instead of just sandpaper. This is how EKI – Eekhoff Kunststof Industrie – comes into being. We start out by converting mattress foam into draught strip, by applying adhesive and then cutting the foam into strips. This is then used to prevent draughts around wooden windows. Our product range gradually expands from then on.
Name change
We undergo a name change from Eekhoff Kunststof Industrie to Europese Kunststof Industrie. From now on, EKI is a BV (a private company).
Production of cellular rubber rolls
Production of cellular rubber rolls A new department is established and commences production of foam rubber rolls. Our new machines enable us to slice the foam rubber into any thickness desired. We were already very flexible with respect to the width of tape, but now we’re also able to accommodate a range of thicknesses. Another new machine allows us to glue rubber sheets together. This foam rubber production means we can expand our sales market beyond the borders of the Netherlands to the whole of Europe.
First website
EKI connects to the internet and the first EKI website is launched.
Bart joins the team
Bart van der Tol (current director) joins the EKI team. This also marks the fresh expansion of our product range to include materials such as rubber and sponge rubber. We purchase new machines that offer us new processing and conversion options.
New machine
Another new machine enables the in-house production of rolls and sheets of polyurethane foam from master blocks.
New machine
Another new machine enables the in-house production of rolls and sheets of polyurethane foam from master blocks.
New management
Bart van der Tol and Chantal Peters manage EKI together. Bart is responsible for the technical and financial side, while Chantal takes care of the commercial and human resources aspects. They are supported by the management team and collaborate closely with contracted specialists, enabling them to stay up to date with the latest developments.
Relocation to new building
We relocate to the new premises on Ambachtsweg a few streets away. This gives us more space to further expand in terms of machinery and stocks.
Winning the B2B Shopping Award
Thanks to our unique product configurator, EKI has won the B2B Shopping Award for 2021! This system enables our customers to navigate the complex online ordering process without the aid of a staff member. The jury complimented us on the clear, smooth journey that we have laid out for our customers, despite the high degree of complexity underlying the system.
Social Innovation Pioneer
Chantal Peters is appointed as Social Innovation Pioneer by the Province of Gelderland. She owes this to her work and leadership in the management of EKI.
Winner of the Pearl Award
On January 25, we won the Lifeport Pearl Award from The Economic Board. We celebrated this with a performance by the famous DJ Brennan Heart!
Finalist for the Koning Willem I Prize
EKI has been nominated for the Koning Willem I Prize, the Oscars of Dutch business.
Why choose EKI
It's buzzing here. With energy, creativity, and team spirit. We do everything together and with a positive mindset. We look ahead, show courage, and pioneer with determination.
We love to bring other entrepreneurs into our world. We share our passion for social innovation, sustainability, and circularity, and reveal our secrets to becoming and remaining an attractive employer. Curious about how we do it? Feel free to come by for a tour.
Welcome to the wonderful world of EKI!
Innovation
Over the next 5 years, our focus is on ensuring continuity, strengthening our company culture, and leading in social innovation, sustainability, and digitalization. We're proud of our current position while recognizing the urgent need for societal progress. Therefore, human-centric and planet-focused business practices are at the core of every daily decision we make.
We believe it's crucial for as many entrepreneurs, politicians, and Dutch citizens as possible to discover that sustainability is achievable without going bankrupt or needing another decade. In fact, quite the opposite: our sustainability efforts propel us into the future. With optimism, the right knowledge, and curiosity, we foster support and innovation, fostering (local) economic growth and connection.
We've discovered how taking risks and approaching challenges with optimism taps into an endless source of creativity, making many things possible. We all benefit. In this way, EKI hopes to gradually make the world a better, more enjoyable, and more positive place, and leave our planet in a better state for future generations than how we found it.
In recent years, we've discovered how embracing risk-taking and optimism unlocks an inexhaustible wellspring of creativity, leading to endless possibilities. With this approach, we aim to make the world a better and more enjoyable place.
- Chantal Peters